The biggest split ticket savings

[brad465]

Today I did Taunton-Staines and back by splitting twice en route, at Pewsey and Newbury, including a morning peak journey. With a railcard, the total cost was £58.85; without the split it would have been £121.65, a saving of over 50% (£62.80). If I had split at Hungerford instead of Newbury, I could have saved another few quid, however this was at the expense of an ideal return journey that didn't call there.

It got me wondering though, what journeys offer the biggest savings, either as a % reduction and/or numerical reduction, compared to a through ticket for the same journey?

 

[Watershed]

It will probably be a day trip where there are no period returns - where you're taking a train which departs just before the through Off-Peak ticket, as well as your Railcard, becomes valid.

For example 2 adults with a Two Together Railcard, who take the 09:25 XC service from Manchester to Reading, returning later the same day. The through fare would be £392.70 so the walk-up split fare of £119.70 represents a nearly 70% saving against that.

 

[A S Leib]

Are you only looking for splits which, apart from the splits, offer the same TOC and time flexibility?

I suspect that some of the biggest savings would involve using LNR/WMR or Lumo-only fares rather than ones priced by Avanti in parts. The Warrington to Euston anytime return is £358 any permitted or £163.50 splitting at Crewe ('via Manchester' Warrington to Crewe anytime period return and LNR / WMR-only Crewe to Euston anytime return). (That doesn't undercut the £159 TfW and Lumo only fare but is, I suspect, rather more useful if you don't know your times beforehand.) Splitting at Crewe saves £194.50 / 54%.

Not quite a split ticketing case, but I wonder how Amersham to Watford Junction compares proportionately between traditional and Oyster / contactless fares. It's possible to buy National Rail tickets between them, but only via central London at up to £32.90 for an anytime single without contactless. The contactless peak fare, presumably based solely via Northwick Park / Kenton is £4.30. Using contactless and Tube services rather than sticking with National Rail tickets saves £28.60 / 87%.

 

[FenMan]

Today I did Taunton-Staines and back by splitting twice en route, at Pewsey and Newbury, including a morning peak journey. With a railcard, the total cost was £58.85; without the split it would have been £121.65, a saving of over 50% (£62.80). If I had split at Hungerford instead of Newbury, I could have saved another few quid, however this was at the expense of an ideal return journey that didn't call there.

It got me wondering though, what journeys offer the biggest savings, either as a % reduction and/or numerical reduction, compared to a through ticket for the same journey?

There are plenty of splits where the savings are eye-watering.

Take a Blackwater - Birmingham (via Oxford) same day return, leaving during the morning peak, returning in the evening peak.

The Anytime Return is £175.70.

But, splitting at Banbury, gives ....

Blackwater - Banbury Anytime Day Return : £41.60
Banbury - Birmingham VIA LEAMINGTON Anytime Day Return : £29.40
Total : £71.00

A saving of £104.70 or over 59%.